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JJDESIGNS NEWS UPDATE 30th NOVEMBER 2020
THE CRUSADES
THE ALMORAVIDS
The Almoravids, also known as the Murabits, were a fundamentalist Islamic movement of the 11[SUP]th[/SUP] and 12[SUP]th[/SUP] Centuries. Founded by Ibn Yasin, in southern Morocco, they combined devotion to Islam with a fierce military tradition, and a desire to conquer. In 1070, the Almoravids established their capital city at Marrakesh, which at the time, was little more than a mosque in the desert surrounded by the tents of the faithful.
These years were, however the high point of the Almoravid expansion into Spain. Despite success on the battlefield they failed to reconquer much land from the Christians. By the mid 12[SUP]th[/SUP] Century the Almoravid empire began to be replaced by a new North African power, the Almohads.
THE ALMORAVID ARMY
The Almoravid army started as a confederation of Berber tribes, who were motivated religious warriors, trained to stand shoulder to shoulder and accept casualties in the cause of Islam. Spearman and archers were the main force of the Almoravid army, and were especially effective against enemy cavalry, and Christian knights.
The Almoravid forces were considered disciplined by the standards of their time, and included large numbers of drummers to boost morale and issue orders. At the battle of Zalaca in 1806, the massed drumming terrified the Spanish.
THE BLACK GUARD AND ALMORAVID SPEARMEN
It is said that Ben Yusuf had an elite unit of 4,000 spearmen, known as “The Black Guard”, who were decisive in defeating King Alfonso VI of Leon-Castile at the battle of Zalaca in 1086.
Later army commanders would also have similar units, such as the guards that were allegedly chained together to protect the Caliph Muhammad II’s tent at Las Nava de Tolosa in 1212.
Probably the most characteristic feature of the Almoravid warrior was, his “litham” or face veil. The Almoravids were said to regard the mouth as unclean and referred to unveiled peoples as “the fly-mouthed”.
The first of the Almoravid Figures will be released in January 2021.
Notes From John
Please note that this will be the last News Update, until Monday 4[SUP]th[/SUP] January 2021.
January New Releases information, will be announced on the 4[SUP]th[/SUP] January.
We are now starting to ship the December releases. We hope that we will be able to get all these out by the 18[SUP]th[/SUP] December.
JJDesigns will be closed from the 21[SUP]st[/SUP] December 2020, until the 4[SUP]th[/SUP] January 2021.
Starting from tomorrow, Tuesday 1[SUP]st[/SUP] December, there will be the annual JJD Facebook Group “Advent Calendar”. Many thanks to Mike again for all his hard work with this years’ Caption Contest, as well as posting all of this years’ upcoming advent calendar pictures.
Many thanks to Julie who normally re-posts the advent calendar pictures on the Treefrog Forum.
2020 has been an extremely challenging year. Many thanks to everyone who has persevered to stay in business and help see us all through this unbelievable situation.
Special thanks must go to Yvette and May, without whom I personally would not have been able to manage to get through 2020…… or the last five years.
Best wishes for the holidays, and for a better 2021.
john jenkins
THE CRUSADES
THE ALMORAVIDS
The Almoravids, also known as the Murabits, were a fundamentalist Islamic movement of the 11[SUP]th[/SUP] and 12[SUP]th[/SUP] Centuries. Founded by Ibn Yasin, in southern Morocco, they combined devotion to Islam with a fierce military tradition, and a desire to conquer. In 1070, the Almoravids established their capital city at Marrakesh, which at the time, was little more than a mosque in the desert surrounded by the tents of the faithful.
These years were, however the high point of the Almoravid expansion into Spain. Despite success on the battlefield they failed to reconquer much land from the Christians. By the mid 12[SUP]th[/SUP] Century the Almoravid empire began to be replaced by a new North African power, the Almohads.
THE ALMORAVID ARMY
The Almoravid army started as a confederation of Berber tribes, who were motivated religious warriors, trained to stand shoulder to shoulder and accept casualties in the cause of Islam. Spearman and archers were the main force of the Almoravid army, and were especially effective against enemy cavalry, and Christian knights.
The Almoravid forces were considered disciplined by the standards of their time, and included large numbers of drummers to boost morale and issue orders. At the battle of Zalaca in 1806, the massed drumming terrified the Spanish.
THE BLACK GUARD AND ALMORAVID SPEARMEN
It is said that Ben Yusuf had an elite unit of 4,000 spearmen, known as “The Black Guard”, who were decisive in defeating King Alfonso VI of Leon-Castile at the battle of Zalaca in 1086.
Later army commanders would also have similar units, such as the guards that were allegedly chained together to protect the Caliph Muhammad II’s tent at Las Nava de Tolosa in 1212.
Probably the most characteristic feature of the Almoravid warrior was, his “litham” or face veil. The Almoravids were said to regard the mouth as unclean and referred to unveiled peoples as “the fly-mouthed”.
The first of the Almoravid Figures will be released in January 2021.
Notes From John
Please note that this will be the last News Update, until Monday 4[SUP]th[/SUP] January 2021.
January New Releases information, will be announced on the 4[SUP]th[/SUP] January.
We are now starting to ship the December releases. We hope that we will be able to get all these out by the 18[SUP]th[/SUP] December.
JJDesigns will be closed from the 21[SUP]st[/SUP] December 2020, until the 4[SUP]th[/SUP] January 2021.
Starting from tomorrow, Tuesday 1[SUP]st[/SUP] December, there will be the annual JJD Facebook Group “Advent Calendar”. Many thanks to Mike again for all his hard work with this years’ Caption Contest, as well as posting all of this years’ upcoming advent calendar pictures.
Many thanks to Julie who normally re-posts the advent calendar pictures on the Treefrog Forum.
2020 has been an extremely challenging year. Many thanks to everyone who has persevered to stay in business and help see us all through this unbelievable situation.
Special thanks must go to Yvette and May, without whom I personally would not have been able to manage to get through 2020…… or the last five years.
Best wishes for the holidays, and for a better 2021.
john jenkins
